Seal for manure spreader floating auger

ABSTRACT

A manure spreader has a tank with endwalls including guides for receiving opposite ends of a rotating auger shaft thus permitting a change of position of the rotating auger in the tank relative to the manure. The auger may change position in response to the condition of the manure or may be a controlled change in response to actuation of fluid powered pistons. A sealing mechanism is provided to prevent the loss of manure from inside the tank while permitting vertical movement of the auger within slots in the tank endwalls. The seals include a plate and compression springs interposed between the plate and the auger bearings to place an axial load on the seal via the auger.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 340,441, filedJan. 18, 1982, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to fluid diffusing including flowdeflecting means and, more particularly, to wet slurry type manurespreaders.

In a slurry type of manure spreader, particularly of the type having arotating auger, relatively sticky type pen manure is sometimes used. Dueto a sticky consistency, the manure will sometimes bridge above theauger and will not feed properly in order to be expelled from thespreader.

Also, in slurry type spreaders, a wetter slurry is sometimes used.Although the wetter slurries do not tend to bridge as does the stickymanure, the wetter slurries are prone to freezing in appropriate weatherconditions. Further, both the sticky and the wetter slurry type manuresare apt to contain rocks and when this occurs, the rocks can wedgebetween paddles on the auger and the side of the spreader tank. Thiscondition can cause paddle and tank damage.

Furthermore, the slurry type manures are somewhat liquid in consistencyand tend to seek their own level. The positioning of a movable augerwithin the tank of a manure spreader and extending through the endwallsof the tank for driving connection with a drive mechanism to effectrotation thereof creates a problem of maintaining the liquified manurewithin the confines of the tank without leaking through the slots formedin the endwalls to accommodate the vertical movement of the auger.

The foregoing illustrates limitations of the known prior art. Thus, itis apparent that is would be advantageous to provide an alternativedirected to overcoming one or more of the limitations as set forthabove. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is to provide a slurry typespreader which avoids bridging, freezing and rock damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, this is accomplished byproviding a manure spreader having an adjustable and a rotatable auger.The auger extends between the endwalls of the spreader tank. Means areprovided for shifting the position of the auger in the tank. Guides areprovided to limit the shift of the auger by a predetermined distance.The auger is free to move vertically relative to the means for shiftingthe position of the auger in the tank, whereby the auger is free tofloat over obstacles inside the tank within the confines of the slots inthe tank endwalls.

Placement of the guide slots in the endwalls to facilitate verticalmovement of the auger provides a means through which the liquidcomponent of the manure within the tank can leak externally of the tank.Accordingly, seals are provided to prevent leakage of the manure fromthe endwall slots while permitting the auger bearings and the auger tovertically move within the slot. These seals include a plate ofsynthetic material and a plurality of compression springs mounted toimpose an axial load on the seal via the auger.

The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the followingdetailed description of the invention when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are not intended as a definition of theinvention but are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon considerationof the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a wet slurrytype of manure spreader;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view illustrating an embodiment of anauger including paddles in combination with the wet slurry spreader ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view illustrating an embodiment ofthis invention taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partial end view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a known manure spreading apparatus generallydesignated 10. Spreader 10 includes a main frame 12 including aplurality of wheels 14 whereby spreader 10 is a mobile unit. Spreader 10includes a manure containing portion or tank 16 mounted on frame 12.Portion or tank 16 generally includes a top 18, which may be open and abottom 20 interconnected with a pair of sidewalls 22, 24 and a pair ofendwalls 26, 28. Sidewalls 22, 24 converge toward bottom 20.

An auger 30 is rotatably mounted within manure containing portion 16adjacent bottom 20 and is supported at opposite ends 32, 34 in endwalls26, 28 respectively. One of the sidewalls 22 includes an opening 36formed therein and a movable door 38 mounted adjacent opening 36.

A rotating expelling apparatus 40 is rotatably mounted adjacent opening36 for expelling manure from the spreader 10.

A drawbar 42 and hitch 44 are attached to frame 12 to provide forconnection to a towing vehicle such as an agricultural tractor (notshown). Also, a well known power takeoff (PTO) connection 46 is providedfor transmitting power from the tractor for rotatably operating auger 30and expelling apparatus 40. A well known fluid powered cylinder 48 isconnected to spreader 10 for varying the position of door 38. Power foroperating cylinder 48 is readily available via high pressure conduits 50which can also be connected to receive power from the tractor.

It is well known that auger 30 is provided with auger flighting orpaddles 52 for moving manure toward opening 36 whereby, with door 38moved to a suitable open position, expeller 40 is fed with asubstantially continuous supply of manure to be expelled for the purposeof spreading a pattern of fertilizer on a field.

The present invention provides for mounting opposite end 32, 34 of auger30 in guides such as elongated slots 58 formed in endwalls 26, 28 whichpermits auger 30 to, not only rotate, but shift or change rotatingpositions within manure containing portion 16, see FIGS. 3 and 4. Inthis manner, auger 30 is permitted to move freely in response to thecondition of the manure. For example since auger 30 is adjacent bottom20 where sides 22, 24 converge, debris could wedge between one of thepaddles 52 and a sidewall 22, 24. Should this occur, the rotating augercould act against the debris causing a reaction sufficient for movingauger 30 a predetermined distance from one rotating position to anotherwithin the limits of slots 58.

Means, such as fluid power cylinders 60, 62 are provided for adjustingthe position of auger 30. Cylinders 60, 62 are commercially availableand are preferably operated by hydraulic power available from anassociated tractor, as aforesaid endwalls 26, 28 respectively. Pistons54, 56 are extendable from cylinders 60, 62 in response to hydraulicactuation.

Each end 32, 34 of auger 30 is secured to a respective bearing 68, 70permitting free rotation of auger 30 therein. Preferably a seal 72comprising a plate of synthetic material is carried by each end 32, 34and is positioned between each bearing 68, 70 and a respective endwall26, 28. In this manner, leakage of manure through slots 58 is limited.Preferably, a steel plate 74 is between bearing 70 and in abutment withone of the seals 72. A plurality of pins 76 are attached to plate 74 bywelding or the like, and extend slidably through a flange 70a of bearing70. A spring 78 is carried by each pin 76 and is compressed betweenplate 74 and bearing 70. In this manner, an axial load is transmittedvia auger 30 to be imposed on each seal 72.

Should freezing manure, adjacent bottom 20, arrest rotation of auger 30,pistons 64, 66 can be actuated to extend and engage bearings 68, 70,respectively, thus freeing auger 30 to move within the limits of slots58. Also, when sticky pen manure bridges above rotating auger 30,pistons 64, 66 can be actuated to raise auger 30 within the limits ofslots 58 thus freeing the bridged manure. When pistons 64, 66 areretracted into the respective cylinders 60, 62 bearings 68, 70 can reston stops 80, 82 respectively, formed of reinforced fabricated steelplates and preferably welded to respective endwalls 26, 28.

Means, such as reinforced, fabricated steel angles are preferably boltedto each endwall 26, 28 to form retainers 84, for retaining the movementof bearings 68, 70 and thus limiting extensive slop and play of augerends 32, 34 in slots 58. Also, metal to metal wear between auger ends32, 34 and respective endwalls 26, 28 is avoided.

Means, such as a rod 86, is connected to auger 30, preferably at bearing70, for extending through a guide 85 and above endwall 28, for visuallyindicating relative positions of auger 30 in slots 58. Also, means suchas pointer 88, is connected to move with door 38 for visually indicatingvarious positions of door 38.

The present invention anticipates other means permitting auger 30 toshift position relative to manure containing portion 16. For example, itmay be desirable to mount auger ends 32, 34 on guides such as pivotalarms mounted inside manure containing portion 16 which can be moved toraise or lower auger 30.

The foregoing has described a slurry type manure spreader having afloating auger which avoids bridging, freezing and rock damage.

It is anticipated that aspects of the present invention, other thanthose specifically defined in the appended claims, can be obtained fromthe foregoing description and the drawings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A manurespreading apparatus comprising:a manure containing portion having a topand a bottom interconnected with sidewalls and a pair of endwalls; anauger rotatably mounted in the manure containing portion adjacent saidbottom, said auger including first and second ends each extendingthrough a respective slot formed in each endwall, said ends beingmovable within said slots; means operably connected for retainingmovement of each end in said slots; bearings connected to eachrespective one of said ends to rotatively support said auger; a sealingmechanism associated with said bearings and being disposed between thebearings corresponding to each auger end and each respective said slot,said sealing mechanism including a seal member positioned adjacent eachrespective said slot and a plate disposed between one of said seals andthe associated one of said bearings; resilient means compressed betweensaid plate and said associated one of said bearings for imposing anaxial load on both said seals through said auger to urge each said sealmember toward engagement with the corresponding said endwalls; and meansconnected to said spreader adjacent each endwall operable for movingsaid auger within limits of said slots.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1further including means connected to said spreader adjacent each augerend for limiting movement of said auger within said slots, said meansincluding a stop connected to said spreader adjacent each end.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein said seals are carried by said auger. 4.The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means connected for moving saidauger including a fluid powered cylinder and associated piston connectedto said spreader adjacent each auger end.
 5. In a manure spreadingapparatus of the type including a manure containing portion having a topand a bottom interconnected with sidewalls and a pair of endwalls, anauger including paddles for moving manure toward an outlet in one of thesidewalls, said auger being rotatably mounted in the manure containingportion adjacent said bottom, said auger including first and second endseach extending through a respective endwall, said endwalls includingslots formed therein, said ends of said auger being movable within saidslots, bearings connected to each respective one of said ends of saidauger, and means connected to said spreader adjacent each said endwallfor moving said auger within limits of said slots, the improvementcomprising:a sealing mechanism associated with each said bearing andincluding a seal engageable with the corresponding adjacent said endwalland being located between each associated said bearing at eachrespective auger end and each corresponding respective slot; a plateabutting at least one of said seals and being positioned between saidone of said seals and the corresponding associated said bearing;resilient means compressed between said plate and said adjacent one ofsaid bearings for imposing an axial load on said auger and compressingboth said seals against the corresponding said endwalls; and meansconnected to said spreader adjacent each endwall operable for movingsaid auger within limits of said slots.
 6. A manure spreading apparatuscomprising:a manure containing portion having a top and a bottominterconnected with sidewalls and a pair of endwalls each having avertical slot formed therein; auger means for rotating movement foragitating manure in the manure containing portion and for verticalmovement in said slots in response to a condition of the manure and inresponse to actuation of an auger position means, said auger meanspositioned adjacent said bottom and having first and second endsextending through a respective end of said slots; means operablyconnected for retaining movement of each end in said slots; bearingsconnected to each respective one of said ends; a door in said manurecontaining portion movable between various positions; and indicatormeans connected to said door for visually indicating said variouspositions of said door.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein saidindicator means includes a pointer positioned adjacent one of saidendwalls and associated linkage interconnecting said pointer and saiddoor to move said pointer in response to a corresponding movement ofsaid door.